Sports

Three matches down and Bangladesh are yet to witness a Shakib Al Hasan-special. While he did score a match-turning half-century against Afghanistan, many reckon that the best is yet to come. However, things haven't been easy for the left-hander. He has barely found turn in the two venues Bangladesh played in and with the bat he comes down the order—an issue that he played down during yesterday's pre-match press conference at the Saxton oval. Despite all...

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Leg spinning all rounder Seekkuge Prasanna will be flown to Australia as cover for the injured Rangana Herath. "Rangana's wound is expected take 7-10 days to heal," an official release said. "Seekkuge will be sent to Australia only as a precautionary measure." The injury puts Herath in doubt for the match against Australia on Sunday,...

Lega Calcio

Seydou Keita salvaged a share of the points for 10-man Roma in a 1-1 draw with Juventus that saw the champions retain their nine-point lead at the top of Serie A on Monday. Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over a Roma wall for his 15th goal of the season that took him top of...

Barclays English Premier League

Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria are the two most expensive players in Manchester United's history, costing a combined 97 million pounds ($150 million) last year as the club looked to regain their status as England's top team. Mata, bought for 37.1 million pounds ($57 million) by David Moyes, has mainly been used as...

Barclays English Premier League

Having claimed the season's first major trophy, Chelsea will attempt to tighten their stranglehold on the Premier League title race when they visit West Ham United in mid-week. Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday to lift the League Cup and they were given double cause for celebration by Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the day. Chelsea now lead second-place City by five points with a game in hand, leaving manager Jose Mourinho well placed to...

Sunderland suspended England winger Adam Johnson on Monday after he was arrested on suspicion of having sex with an under-age girl. Johnson was held in custody after his arrest and, with police saying he was helping them with their enquiries, the 27-year-old was suspended by the Premier League club pending the outcome of the investigation. "A 27-year-old man was arrested earlier today on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16," a Durham police statement said. According to several newspapers, Johnson...

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AFC U-23 C'ship Qualifiers

The training camp for the U-23 national football team ahead of the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers is likely to get underway from March 16, just 10 days before the start of the four-team qualifiers to be held in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Football Federation is planning to suspend the Bangladesh Premier League, which is scheduled to start from March 9 for two weeks to accommodate the training camp of the U-23 national team as well as the qualifiers which will feature...

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is in line to make his return from a hamstring problem in Wednesday's Premier League clash with Queens Park Rangers, manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Tuesday. The Wales international sustained a third hamstring injury of the season during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat of Leicester City on February 10, but is in contention to feature at Loftus Road after returning to training ahead of schedule. "Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad," Wenger told a press conference. "When you have...

Carlos Tevez confirmed he will not be taking over free kick duties from Juventus specialist Andrea Pirlo despite scoring from his first Serie A setpiece on Monday during a 1-1 draw with Roma. With Pirlo out for three weeks due to a calf injury, Tevez stepped up for a free kick just after the hour mark of the top-of-the-table clash at Roma's Stadio Olimpico. To general surprise, the Argentinian curled his effort over the wall superbly, leaving Roma goalkeeper Morgan De...

AC Milan midfielders Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel De Jong are set to miss the embattled Serie A club's upcoming games after being sidelined by injury during a scoreless draw away to Chievo on Saturday. Italy international Montolivo has "suffered a hamstring problem" while Dutchman De Jong "suffered a muscle injury in the back of his thigh", according to a club statement. It added that club captain "Montolivo (...) will undergo further medical tests in a week's time" while the fitness of...

Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak will serve a four-game ban after accepting a charge of violent conduct for elbowing West Ham United's Diafra Sakho, the Football Association announced on Tuesday. The Australian midfielder appeared to deliberately elbow Sakho in the face towards the end of Palace's 3-1 win at Upton Park on Saturday in an incident missed by the referee.

Britain's Prince William practised sports diplomacy in China on Tuesday, striding onto the football pitch at a Shanghai school. Wearing a dark blue suit, he stopped a stray ball, tapped it twice with his black shoe before giving it a confident kick. His trip to China makes him the highest-profile royal visitor since...

Pakistan V United Arab Emirates

Pakistan will target a huge improvement in batting to boost their net run-rate in the World Cup Pool B match against minnows United Arab Emirates in Napier on Wednesday. Pakistan's long standing batting woes have continued in the tournament as they lost their opening game against archrivals India by 76 runs and went down...

Australia V Afghanistan

Afghanistan face their toughest test of the World Cup so far when they play four-time champions Australia in Perth on Wednesday. Afghanistan have been the 'Cinderella' story of this World Cup, with their maiden win -- a thrilling one-wicket victory over Scotland in Dunedin last time out -- one of the highlights of the...

The Bangladesh cricket team has received a warm reception from the Bangladeshi expatriates since their arrival in Australia. In Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, virtually everywhere; the Tigers saw webs of red and green. Their arrival stirred all the local Bangladeshi fans and they not only poured into the stadiums, but also visited team hotels to meet their favourite cricketers for pictures and autographs. However, Nelson provided a different experience. Not a single supporter came to meet the Tigers, perhaps a welcome...

Pakistan's chief selector Moin Khan will not face further disciplinary action after being sent home from the World Cup for visiting a casino on the eve of a crucial clash, the country's cricket chief said Tuesday. Moin said he had gone to the casino in the New Zealand city of Christchurch for dinner with friends and family. But he apologised after his actions offended cricket fans in a country where gambling is viewed as taboo. Speaking to reporters in Lahore Tuesday,...

FAF du PLESSIS Faf du Plessis left no stone unturned to display as to what yesterday's century meant to him. He raised both arms and flexed his muscles; almost announcing his arrival in the mega event. It was important because the batsman had gotten starts in his last two innings. He scored 55 against India and 62 against the West Indies. While those efforts were commendable, he failed to continue and get a big one. Yesterday, though, was different. Guided by the calm and experienced Hashim Amla at the other end, du Plessis rollicked to a run-a-ball 109. While his strike-rate was the second lowest in the South African side...

Eusebius McKaiser: This is my favourite Proteas batting line up in years. Imagine a team so strong De Villiers is allowed a bad day at the office?! Roger Oldridge: Amla and DuPlessis obviously decided they didn't want to let de Villiers have all the fun again.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers hailed Hashim Amla as the team's "rock" after the opener cracked 159 in the crushing 201-run World Cup win over Ireland on Tuesday. Amla reached his 20th one-day international century faster than any batsman, his career-best score coming in his 108th innings, with India's Virat Kohli the next...

South Africa captain AB de Villiers on Tuesday backed his team to go far in the World Cup following a 201-run romp over hapless Ireland in Canberra to record their third win in Pool B. Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis hit centuries while Dale Steyn shone in his 100th one-day international as South Africa showcased their prowess with the rout of Ireland. Amla scored 159 off 128 balls to become the fastest man to reach 20 ODI centuries and du...

Ireland got an early and painful reminder of what a fickle mistress cricket can be in their 201-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in their third World Cup match on Tuesday. The Irish, who came into the contest at Manuka Oval with a burgeoning reputation and two victories under their belts, had...

Hashim Amla 159 off 128 balls; when you read Hasim Amla's score out loud you tend to imagine a ferocious innings with cross-batted whips and strokes down-the-track with the player dripping in Canberra's humid conditions. The South African's innings though depicted anything but that. The way Amla casually nudged the singles seemed like magic. It was like watching a calm craftsman at work, with his hands producing a creation ever so special. After reaching his century, courtesy of a gentle push down the ground, Amla gently lifted his bat and acknowledged the crowd. There wasn't any overreaction, no relief and neither was there a fist-thump; and he eventually went on...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

From excluding the older players from the side to hiring a new fielding coach, the team management followed a number of strategies in a bid to maintain a strong fielding unit in this World Cup. However, when the chips were down, that was the very aspect that the Tigers failed in. Bangladesh dropped a...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

A man, who has a very good knowledge about this Bangladesh team, has been sharing his experience with the Scots ahead of the March 5 clash in the ICC World Cup at the Saxton Oval. While he did stay in the same hotel as the Tigers, the last few days none of his...

Third Eye

Published Date: March 3, 2015

With all the new rules floating around the game, the ICC should probably think about punching in a few norms that can help matches become a bit more competitive in international events. Maybe they can provide the option of switching-on the 'catch-up' mode, akin to multiplayer racing games and give the second player an opportunity to cover some ground; because in this World Cup, matches have been lasting just for an innings. In the 23 fixtures so far, six of them...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud yesterday defended himself from the wave of criticism after an online website uploaded a photo of him in a casino where he went at around 11:30 on the night of February 26 in Melbourne. The incident sparked a debate in Bangladesh as it has taken place at a time when pacer Al-Amin Hossain was sent back home for staying out of the team hotel late at night in Brisbane without any permission from the team management. “It is very unfortunate. I can assure everybody that I didn't do anything wrong because I am very much aware of my duty. And one thing what I want to...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Muktijoddha Sangsad set up a final showdown of the Federation Cup against defending champions Sheikh Jamal DC after overcoming a spirited Mohammedan SC 4-3 in sudden-death shootout in the second semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Muktijoddha defender Anisul Alam Sweet smashed the seventh attempt at the upper right corner of the net...

Walton 16th National Cricket League 2015

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Bangladesh pacer Al-Amin Hossain returned to competitive cricket yesterday following his departure from the national team in the World Cup as he was included by Khulna in their game against Dhaka Metro at the BKSP on the first day of the fifth round of the National Cricket League. The pacer, who was sent back...

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz has accused the ICC of favoring the Indian team in the ongoing cricket World Cup by providing the defending champions pitches tailor made to suit their strengths. "You look at the matches played so far in this World Cup that where India has played the pitches have been prepared...

LFP

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Real Madrid missed the chance to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo's early second-half penalty looked to have Madrid on course for a fourth consecutive win, but Gerard Moreno's thunderous equaliser 26 minutes from time earned the visitors a deserved point. Champions Atletico Madrid failed to gain any ground on the leaders as they battled to a 0-0 draw at Sevilla. Fourth-placed Valencia...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Rafael Nadal won his first title in nearly nine months on Sunday, beating Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 to win the Argentina Open. Nadal's triumph was his first since he won a ninth French Open title at Roland Garros last June. It was Nadal's 65th career crown on all surfaces, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the Open Era all-time list led by the 109 titles of American Jimmy Connors. He broke out of a tie for fifth with Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras. "They have an impressive history," Nadal said of Sampras and Borg. "That's why it is an honour to be compared to them." He claimed his 46th career claycourt...

Lega Calcio

Published Date: March 3, 2015

On-loan Chelsea forward Mohamed Salah came off the bench to hit his third goal in four league games as nine-man Fiorentina ended Inter Milan's three-game winning run with a 1-0 success at the San Siro on Sunday. Fiorentina were unbeaten in 11 competitive matches and travelled to Milan in confident mood having knocked Tottenham out of the Europa League on Thursday when Salah scored in a 2-0 win in Florence. And La Viola, forced to finish the game with nine men...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

John Terry hailed Chelsea's League Cup final triumph against Tottenham as a massive moment in Jose Mourinho's second spell in charge. Terry put Chelsea on course for a 2-0 victory when the Blues captain fired home on the stroke of half-time and Kyle Walker's second-half own goal ensured Mourinho would claim his first silverware since his return to Stamford Bridge in 2013. Mourinho's maiden trophy of his original stint as Chelsea manager was also the League Cup in 2005 and that...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said that his plans to stop his players following Man City's game against Liverpool prior to the League Cup final were thwarted by his goalkeeping coach. "I prepared the players for an impossible mission, which was we don't want to know the Man City result," Mourinho told his post-match...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Angel Di Maria is a great player and will rediscover his best form for Manchester United after enduring a difficult time of late, captain Wayne Rooney said. The 27-year-old Argentine has done little to justify the British record transfer fee of 59.7 million pounds ($92 million) United spent to recruit the flying winger from Real Madrid. Di Maria, who has scored three goals in 19 Premier League games this season, was taken off at halftime during United's 2-0 victory over Sunderland...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Dhaka City Corporation (North and South) 25th Pioneer Football League gets underway today where 59 teams will be fighting for three qualifying spots for the third Division Football League. The participating teams, split into 10 zones, will play in round-robin league format in group stages, and two teams from each zone will advance to the 20-team Super League, informed Pioneer League Committee co-chairman Bijon Barua at a press conference yesterday. Barua informed that they have selected around 2000 booters of U-16...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Inter Milan on Sunday moved to fend off reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester United in Mauro Icardi, claiming the Argentinian striker has a "long-term future" at the club. Interest in Icardi has blossomed recently after the 21-year-old took his Serie A goals tally this season to 14 to sit top of the league scoring charts alongside Juventus marksman Carlos Tevez. The English media on Sunday republished reports from Italy a day earlier, claiming Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been bombarding...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

A Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) team beat a team from Indian Border Security Force (BSF) by 2-1 sets in a friendly volleyball match held here yesterday afternoon. Panchagarh 18 BGB Battalion organised the event at the Mirgarh border in Panchagarh sadar upazila aimed at cementing cordial relationship between the two forces of the neighbouring countries. A 25-member BSF team led by SK Panwar, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Kishanganj BSF Sector, was earlier greeted by colonel Akramul Haque, commander of Thakurgaon...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Sabina Khatun is set to become the first Bangladeshi female footballer to play in a foreign league as the national women's team is set for a spell with the Maldives Police team in a domestic competition of Maldives, starting from March 14. Sabina, the vice captain of the national team, caught the attention of Maldives officials during the SAFF Women's Championship in Pakistan last November. “I was offered to play for a Maldives team by a Maldives football official and it felt like a dream to me,” said Sabina, who had struck two goals in Bangladesh's 3-1 win over Maldives.

Ireland V South Africa

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Ireland go into Tuesday's World Cup clash against South Africa in Canberra faced with a question that even fanciful Test nations have struggled to find an answer for. How does one tame the rampaging AB de Villiers before he destroys the rivals' bowling attack, dents their morale and leaves them dumbstruck by what just...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Ireland captain William Porterfield is confident his team will not be overawed by the mighty South Africans in Canberra on Tuesday, saying they had made good plans to contain AB de Villiers's side. Ireland's hopes will rest largely on how they keep the rival batsmen quiet, especially de Villiers. Porterfield admitted it will be a...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Cold water was poured on Dale Steyn's preparations for the Ireland game, his 100th in ODIs, when he learned of mountain fires raging in Cape Town, close to his home. "Massive fire behind my house in Stonehurst! Plz be safe and watch out for the mountain animals trying to escape it, porcupines, tortoises..." he posted on Twitter. "These little animals will also need ur help! Hope the homes don't get hit!" Stonehurst Estate is located on the Muizenberg Mountains where multiple...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

England may have been utterly humiliated in their second World Cup pool match against co-hosts New Zealand but Sunday's nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka was much more damaging, according to former England captain Mike Atherton. Tim Southee claimed 7-33 and skipper Brendon McCullum blasted the fastest half-century in tournament history as the Kiwis shot England out for 123 and romped home in the 13th over in a ridiculously one-sided match in Wellington. By comparison, Eoin Morgan and his team put up...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

The way to succeed in this World Cup is patent: bat first, make at least 300, or lose. There have been 13 completed matches between Test nations. Nine times, batting first and making 300-plus has been more than enough. Once, it was not. The other variation is New Zealand, who twice have won after bowling first and skittling opponents for 150 or less. The exception to all these rules was the most recent match, in which 235-7 proved to be...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Five magic moments at the 2015 Cricket World Cup as the tournament takes its first rest day on Monday: Captain Morgan or invisible man? England captain Eoin Morgan was introduced as 'Eoin Rogers' by the mayor of Wellington when the team arrived in the New Zealand capital. Morgan,shrugged off the gaffe: "I've been called a lot worse. She got the hardest part right." Rambo inspires Afghanistan Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid Hassan has become a cult hero, charging in with bandanna strapped tightly around...

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Australia all-rounder James Faulkner said Monday he was raring to go against Afghanistan after fearing his World Cup might be over before it had started. Last month, Faulkner suffered a side strain while bowling during Australia's 112-run tri-series final win over England in Perth -- a match where he smashed a 24-ball 50 not out featuring four fours and as many sixes -- and left the field at the WACA visibly in pain But now the 24-year-old Tasmanian hopes the same...